Tag: Plan B

On reflection, no, you wouldn’t…

Good negotiating tactic there, Boris. What an asset you are to the UK team.

Before and during the campaign leading to the referendum on withdrawal from the EU, it is rumoured (and widely accepted) that David Cameron refused to allow anyone in government or the civil service to contemplate, even for a second, the possibility that his (remain) side would lose.

Indeed when Nicola Sturgeon said “You could lose this, David”, he replied, “Don’t be silly”.

As a result, when the admittedly unexpected result came in not one single plan was in place.

The EU had a set of rules and regulations by which it had to act. It only had to appoint a few people to make up the negotiating team which would work within these rules and regulations.

The British side had nothing. No plan, no staff, no negotiators, no trade people, no ideas, no knowledge. No nothing.

During our referendum, I remember Alistair Darling (his nobleness) rant on and on about the YES campaign not having a Plan B if the UK government refused to allow an independent Scotland to use the pound. Of course, it would have been impossible and illegal for them to do this. But without cooperation from the British Treasury and Bank of England, it might have been awkward for Scotland. But of course, the YES campaign did have an alternative plan. It’s just that a Scottish pound, tied to the British pound made more sense both for Scotland and the UK, something which the Bank of England an anonymous government minister admitted. Having a Plan B then seemed to be incredibly important for the Brits.

Having a Plan B at that time seemed to be incredibly important for the Brits. What changed?

Now, I’m not convinced that the self-same Brits have much of a Plan A, but we now have it from the near top of the government that they haven’t prepared for anything to go wrong?

What arrogance. Can they be saying that Mrs May’s plan is so perfect there is no need for an alternative? Her history hardly suggests that that is a starter.